Category: Travel Tips

Dubai is a place of many different cultures, which makes it a truly cosmopolitan city. It is also very compact, and visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities and see various sights quickly and easily. For example, they can experience a desert safari, visit old Dubai (Bastakiya) and become acquainted with modern Dubai and marvel at the contrast. Some of its main archeological sites in Jumeirah, Al Ghusais, and Al Sufooh are more than 2,000 years old. The mosque in Jumeirah, with its majestic dome and two minarets, is also a prime example of modern Islamic architecture. Even its golf courses are models of successful desert landscaping and greening, and the clubhouse architecture is spectacular. The various Souks in the city are the most interesting places for sight-seeing and…

There are no drugstores or grocery stores in the wilderness! A backpacking trip, no matter how long the duration, will definitely be more enjoyable if you remember to pack several essential items. (1) A first aid kit is a necessity for every backpacking trip. Include antiseptic cream, hand sanitizer, bandages, itch cream for poison ivy, scissors and pain relievers. (2) Water and beverages that restore electrolytes to your body are another backpacking essential to keep your body well hydrated while hiking. Nutrient and energy-dense foods that won't spoil, such as dried fruits and nuts, trail mix, granola bars, and energy bars. Include a small bottle of iodine tablets to purify lake or stream water. If you are doing any camp cooking, be sure to include matches or a lighter among…

Eco-tourism is definitely the “in thing” right now and I hope many years into the future. For those who do not know what eco-tourism is, it is visiting places where the environment is one of the main concerns. In other words, we concentrate on things that will help save or protect our environment. Japan is one of the top eco-tourism destinations because they have many eco-friendly activities. They have hot springs, abundant hiking trails, also water activities, such as snorkeling and diving. Japan also believes in public transportation which means you can leave the driving and gas problems behind. Palau is another unspoiled island. The water is clear and unspoiled, the beaches are beautiful and clean and Palau wants to keep it that way Costa Rica has long been known…

If you are thinking of traveling abroad then you should consider getting vaccinations before your trip. Some countries and regions of the world have mandatory vaccination requirements in order to gain entry and failure to have taken the vaccine can mean having to take the shot then and there. The best way to find out what is required as mandatory and what is recommended is to visit the CDC website. It breaks it down by country and region. The newest and most pressing concern these days is for the H1N1 virus, formerly known as Swine Flu. This seems to be more prevalent in certain areas like Mexico and China. The major pharmaceutical companies are hard at work getting a H1N1 virus vaccine ready for the general public. Some companies, like…

Car trips can be a challenge for parents managing kids with travel sickness. Fortunately, taking certain precautions can reduce the risk of nausea. There are also several ways to deal with carsickness if it occurs. For children who are at least two years old, giving a dose of Dramamine or Benadryl 1 ½ hours prior to travel can help prevent nausea. Kids prone to carsickness should be seated in the middle of the backseat so that they are looking directly out the front windshield rather than the side windows. Placing a cool washcloth on the forehead when a child complains of feeling queasy can sometimes ease nausea. Opening the windows to let fresh air in can also help the stomach settle. Holding an icepack on the back of the neck…

A holiday to Russia would not be complete without enjoying the sights of Moscow, the capital city and also Russia's cultural and historical center. Moscow is a combination of new buildings alongside ancient churches, monasteries, theaters, gardens, parks, and museums. An outstanding art museum is the Tretyahov Gallery with an Old Gallery housing the works of Russian painters going back to the early fifteenth century and a New Gallery containing more contemporary artists, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts hosts famous paintings as well as plaster casts of ancient scuptures. The Polytechnical Museum is Russia's largest technical museum with many technological achievements and historical inventions. Moscow is also the center of Russian performing arts with 93 theatres, 132 cinemas, and 24 concert halls. You can experience everything from ballet…

That's the dilemma facing travelers who are trying to decide whether to book flights now, while prices are low, or wait until later in the summer travel season when fares may decrease further. The New York Times reports, "In recent weeks, travelers have been able to find nonstop round-trip flights, including taxes and fees, for $477 from Chicago to Madrid for travel in April, $312 from Newark, N.J., to Dublin in May, and $482 from Washington to London in early June." Sounds great, right? But what if ticket prices can still go lower, just like the housing market? And what if they don't? Will travelers ruin their plans by playing wait-and-see? The old "book early for the best price" rule is no longer applicable, it seems. The answer, of course,…

Love to travel but have limited funds? What if you had a friend in every city whom you could stay with for much less than the cost of renting a hotel room? The answers to both questions are cropping up in the form of sites like iStopOver.com, which caters to frugal travelers looking for hotel alternatives. The concept is sort of like a Craigslist for accommodations. Hosts list their house/apartment and guests can search for available rooms in their destination city. Often, the accommodations rival that of hotels but are offered at a much lower rate, and some do not charge the costly cancellation fees associated with hotel reservations. The inevitable concern, of course, is whether the host will be some pervy neat-freak who has a conniption fit if you…

If you’ve ever flown in the same plane as a screaming baby, you know exactly what Sartre meant in No Exit by “hell is other people.” If you’re the parent of said baby, you’re more likely to believe that your formerly sweet child is Virgil reincarnated, leading you into some unnamed 10th circle of hell. Either way, it’s an unpleasant experience. Luckily, though, Jen Leo of the LA Times has compiled a few helpful tips to make the experience a little less hellish: Bribe your seatmates into assistance, or at least a little tolerance. Starbucks gift cards work well, as do goodie bags containing ear plugs and sweet treats. Nurse or bottle feed during takeoff and landing. Be prepared. Extra diapers, extra clothes, blankets, plastic baggies, a thermometer, and Tylenol…